Treachery's Tools by L. E. Modesitt Jr. Read Free Book Online Page B

can sell and buy as he wishes. That was and remains the rationale for fixing the base level of annual tariffs.”
    At that moment, Alastar realized something that he should have known years earlier, not that it would have made the slightest difference in what had transpired—that the tariff increases mandated by Lorien, and supported by the Collegium, had in fact struck the factors harder, because the increase was on the variable part of the tariff for High Holders, and not on the total, while it applied fully to both sections of the factors’ tariffs.
    â€œDon’t look so surprised, Maitre. I assumed you knew that.”
    â€œI knew that,” replied Alastar pleasantly. “I just had a twinge in my jaw. I was surprised. I was also thinking that, in a fashion, the rex is essentially a High Holder, since he is limited in what he can pass on to any children besides the one who succeeds him.”
    â€œNeither he nor his sire have seemed to have the same concerns as the council does,” said Cransyr sardonically.
    â€œOh, but they have. Like you, they have wished to keep what they have and give up as little as possible. And that is true of the factors as well. The problem is, as you well know, that if no one gives up anything, roads cannot be built, navies maintained, smugglers halted … and many other matters would languish.”
    â€œThat is true enough, but tariffing High Holders out of existence serves little purpose. I would suggest more revenue would be obtained, with less adverse consequences for all Solidar, by tariffing more highly those factors who have amassed hoards of gold because they underpay their workers and claim that they pay every idle relative, when in fact they pocket those golds, in order to reduce the profits they report to the Minister of Finance.”
    â€œYou don’t think terribly highly of some factors.”
    â€œShould I? Some of the most profitable factorages are stinking cesspits. You won’t find anything like that on any High Holding.”
    Alastar was afraid, on that matter, Cransyr was largely correct.
    â€œEven those factors who offer decent working conditions,” Cransyr went on in a tone that suggested there were few such factors, “think nothing of the fact that most of their workers live in the worst of taudis, where cutpurses and villains of every stripe abound.”
    From what Alastar had learned from more than a few young student imagers, living conditions on many High Holdings were not much different from those in the worst of the taudis in L’Excelsis, except that there were fewer cutpurses, and also fewer young men who’d been suspected of such and who had “vanished” or “fled.”
    â€œYou make good points,” Alastar said mildly.
    â€œYou don’t sound exactly convinced, Maitre.” Cransyr’s voice was dryly sardonic.
    â€œI will admit that I recall too vividly the last time tariffs became an issue on which no one would yield.”
    â€œBoth the factors and the High Holders agree now that tariffs should not be raised. We disagree on whose tariffs should be lowered.”
    â€œI can certainly convey your feelings on that to Rex Lorien, assuming you have not already done so.”
    â€œThe council has conveyed its feelings to the rex. He has acknowledged our concerns and promised to give them the fullest consideration in light of all matters that must weigh in any decision.”
    Alastar could well imagine almost exactly those words coming from Lorien.
    â€œIn brief,” continued Cransyr dryly, “he is likely to do nothing to alleviate the concerns of the more distressed High Holders. That being the case, the High Council would be even more concerned should he grant any form of relief to any factors or if he should, the Nameless forbid, add additional burdens to the excessive tariffs already paid by all High Holders.”
    â€œYou’ve made your position